MLA: REG HELWER - BRANDON WEST * MANITOBA PC CRITIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION AND EMERGENCY MEASURES

Lord, we thank you for our MLA Reg Helwer. You have blessed him and placed him in positions of leadership and influence.  Lord, we ask that you would protect Reg as he carries out the responsibilities of representing his constituency of Brandon West whether it is in agriculture, commerce or industry.  May Reg see the fruits of his loyalty and perseverance. Thank you for Reg’s family and the influence they play in the district where they live and work.  Let your blessing be multiplied into their lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.
The son of Ron & Vera, Reg was born in Selkirk, Manitoba when the family lived in Libau. He spent his early years in East St. Paul and is the middle child between Sherry and Gail. Sherry is married with one son and lives in Brandon where she is a partner in the family business. Gail is married with two children and lives in Winnipeg. When Reg was 7, the Helwer’s moved to Brandon to take over the Shell bulk fuel dealership. The Helwer family firm, Shur-Gro Farm Services was started shortly after Simplot opened the new fertilizer plant.

He attended J. R. Reid Elementary School and Vincent Massey High Schools. An avid sports enthusiast, Reg played hockey, baseball, volleyball and was a member of Manitoba’s Alpine Ski Team at the 1979 Canada Games.

During his early years and while attending school, Reg worked for his father in the family business, Shur-Gro Farm Services, starting out as a labourer and truck driver, all the time learning the value of hard work and fiscal responsibility.

He attended Brandon University after high school and attained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. While at BU he engaged himself in the BU community, active in the University Ski Club and served as the President of the University Students’ Union (BUSU). Reg negotiated the contracts that enabled BUSU to begin design of what would become the Knowles-Douglas Student Union Centre.

Reg continued his education and attained a Master in Science in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University in Indiana. During this time, he met a number of people who have since advanced into influential positions around the world in agriculture and business. Reg began his post graduate working career in Winnipeg with Criterion Research and later with the Royal Bank as an Assistant Manager in Agricultural Banking.

During his time in Winnipeg, Reg was a member of the Agriculture Committee of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, the Treasurer of the Winnipeg Branch of the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists, and the President of the Manitoba Branch of the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association (CAMA). Reg served as President of CAMA for two years and was the chair of the committee that brought the national CAMA advertising awards to Winnipeg for the first time.

Reg returned to Brandon with Aynsley and their two children at the time (Jessica and Andrew) to become a partner in the family business. The Helwer Family have long been involved in politics. Fred Helwer, Reg’s grandfather, was a long-time councilor and Reeve in the R.M of St. Clements, where the family farm was located. In 1958, the incumbent MLA decided to retire. Fred ran for and won the nomination.

The incumbent then decided he was not ready to retire and ran as an independent. With three candidates in the race, the votes were split and young Ed Schreyer was elected to office. Reg’s uncle Ed Helwer was no stranger to the political scene either. Uncle Ed served as a municipal councillor in Teulon, MB from 1969 to 1973 and 1977 to 1980, and was the town’s Mayor from 1980 to 1988. He was also chair of the Hunter Hospital Board from 1977 to 1987. Ed ran for the PC’s in the 1988 election and became the MLA for the Gimli riding , serving as their MLA until 2003.